Sampling Methods in Research Design

Infecting minds: socio-contextual drivers of vaccine perceptions and attitudes among young and older adults living in urban and rural areas in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

BACKGROUND

We investigated how social and contextual factors, including a pandemic, shape vaccine perceptions and attitudes among people living in KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. We assessed how participants' views, acceptance, and uptake of vaccines for a range of infectious diseases, may be influenced by experiences and events linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

We conducted 30 in-depth face-to-face and telephonic interviews with participants living in diverse rural and urban communities in two districts within KwaZulu-Natal. Participants were adults (≥ 18 years) consisting of ordinary citizens, traditional healers, and nurses. We combined non-representative convenience, snowballing and purposeful sampling techniques to recruit participants. Data collection was conducted in IsiZulu, and we used both inductive and deductive thematic analysis approaches to identify key themes linked to participants' perceptions and attitudes towards vaccines.

FINDINGS

Our study participants were mostly those who had accepted vaccination. The main reasons given for vaccine uptake included understanding the importance of vaccines for disease prevention and survival, and securing the health of family members, the fear of death, government campaigns, vaccine mandates and penalties. Older participants (≥ 40 years) demonstrated more positive attitudes towards vaccines. Most participants downplayed the role of culture and religion in attitudes towards vaccines. However, some of the drivers of vaccine hesitancy were having an ancestral calling, medical pluralism, or local myths around the treatment of infections such as influenza and mumps, and a perceived depopulation agenda couched in mistrust and the use of incentives and penalties to force people to accept COVID-19 vaccines.

CONCLUSION

Exploring what shapes attitudes towards vaccines in communities provides opportunities to understand the reasoning behind how people make decisions about whether to take a vaccine in different geographical and cultural spaces. The exploration of contexts, exposures and circumstances provide insights into perceptions and behaviour. Deeper engagement with local communities is crucial to develop evidence that can inform vaccine interventions. Assumptions about how culture and religion affect vaccine hesitancy or acceptance should be avoided in the process of developing such evidence.

From ambition to substance use tendency: the mediating role of significance quest

In this study, the aim was to determine the mediating effect of the quest for significance on the relationship between ambition and substance use tendency in emerging adults. Data were collected from emerging adults studying at various universities in Turkey through both face-to-face and online processes. A total of 506 emerging adults ( X ¯ age = 21.62) participated in the study. The Ambition Scale, Significance Quest Scale, Substance Initiation Tendency Scale, and a demographic form were used to gather data. Structural equation modeling was employed to analyze the data. The results revealed a positive and significant relationship between ambition and the quest for significance, as well as between the quest for significance and substance use tendency in emerging adults. Furthermore, the quest for significance was found to mediate the relationship between ambition and substance use tendency in this population. Suggestions were provided based on the findings of the study.

Assessing the interdependency among effectiveness, satisfaction and efficient use of the Lightwave Health Information Management System (LHIMS) by health professionals in Ghana

BACKGROUND

The success of an electronic health records (EHR) system is dependent on the effectiveness, satisfaction, and efficient use of these systems by health professionals. This paper explores the interdependency among effectiveness, satisfaction, and efficient use of Lightwave Health Information Management Systems (LHIMS) which is an EHR by health professionals.

METHODS

A non-interventional descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed for this research. The study used stratified random sampling for the selection of participants. The population for the study was all the health professionals in the Central Region of Ghana. The number of health professionals who responded to the questions was 1126.

RESULTS

The findings suggest that understanding the interdependency of efficiency, effectiveness and satisfaction is crucial for the successful implementation and adoption of LHIMS in healthcare organisations. The study investigated the interdependence among effectiveness, satisfaction, and efficient use of the LHIMS by health professionals, and found a positive but weak significant relationship between these factors.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, this study aimed to assess the interdependency among effectiveness, satisfaction, and efficient use of LHIMS by health professionals. The. results support a positive but weak significant relationship between satisfaction, effectiveness, and efficient use of the LHIMS. These findings have implications for policymakers and hospital management in their efforts to improve the use of LHIMS. Policymakers can focus on any one of the three usability areas to enhance LHIMS use, with visible effects across the other two domains.

Quantitative and Qualitative Research in the Field of 'Spirituality and Health': An Introductory How-to-Guide from a Brazilian Perspective

The present article aims to describe the different steps on how to design, develop and conduct quantitative and qualitative Spirituality and Health (S/H) studies from a Brazilian perspective, discussing definitions and instruments, and proposing a "how-to guide" for those interested in this field of research. A narrative review of the literature has been conducted by experts in the field of S/H aiming to develop a "how-to-guide". Spirituality is a very complex concept that has several challenges in the current scientific literature, including the lack of consensus in the definitions, the numerous dimensions assessed, the diverse instruments for measurement, the criticisms from other scholars, the great diversity of religious and cultural traditions and the growing number of "spiritual but not religious" individuals. This review supports that S/H studies may follow the high scientific standards, using consolidated research procedures and solid methods for both qualitative and quantitative research. Some peculiarities of the research methods for this field are discussed. S/H research is still under development, and there are several future directions for S/H studies, aiming to minimize previous criticisms and generating stronger evidence.

Cultural Tourism in Predominantly Rural Communities. Residents’ Perception in Buzău Carpathians and Subcarpathians (Romania)

Cultural tourism (CT), although considered by some “friendly tourism”, has its impacts, being perceived by more and more people and communities as a force of change through its diversification. This study is aimed at exploring CT’ in Buzău Carpathians and Subcarpathians (BSC) perception by residents using the interview method, targeting three main objectives: Identifying the profiles of the interviewed residents on CT as a driving factor for future development of CT; Analysing the perceived aspects/elements linked to CT and Identifying the roles played by locals for the valorisation of CT sights. The results show that the residents understood CT as a mix between the natural and cultural dimensions of local reality and its positive impact on local traditions. The study highlights the idea that the residents could and should be active agents for the CT local attractions and for the future development of this type of tourism within the study area.

A review of ethnobotanical studies reveals over 500 medicinal plants in Mindanao, Philippines

Medicinal plants have long been used to treat various diseases in both indigenous and non-indigenous populations of Mindanao, Philippines. Here, we extracted data from ethnobotanical studies to compile a comprehensive list of these medicinal plants and identify how and for what purpose they are most commonly used. We identified 530 verified medicinal plant species across 372 genera in 118 families. The two most frequently cited species were Euphorbia hirta and Psidium guajava. The most represented family was Fabaceae and the most represented genus was Ficus. A total of 28 medicinal plant species are designated as threatened at the national or global level; of these, 11 are endemic to the Philippines. Medicinal plant preparations most commonly use leaves for oral administration to treat various diseases such as digestive issues, including diarrhea. This study underscores the need for further ethnobotanical investigations, particularly in areas lacking records. It also emphasizes the need for conservation of threatened and endemic medicinal plants to ensure sustainable utilization of this valuable resource.

School staff and immunization governance: Missed opportunities for public health promotion

BACKGROUND

In US states, childhood immunization mandates are enforced for school registration by front-line school staff, usually secretaries. Despite substantial changes to mandate policies in several states and many countries, little attention has been paid to the people who enforce them. This qualitative pilot study aimed to uncover beliefs, attitudes, and practices regarding immunization governance of Michigan school staff.

METHOD

Front-line administrative workers from Michigan schools and district offices were solicited by email. Sixteen were interviewed remotely.

RESULTS

Front-line school staff believed in vaccines, but did not advocate for vaccination while registering children. Instead, they sought low-friction bureaucratic transactions, privileging the collection of data over the promotion of public health goals. This revealed a mismatch between the goals of the front-line staff who enforce vaccine mandates in schools and the goals of the policymakers who created school vaccine mandates.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found low mobilization of front-line enforcers of mandates in public-facing school administration roles, a problem likely to afflict the majority of American states with the 'mandates + exemptions' model of immunization governance. Schools would have stronger incentives to promote vaccination if state funding were better tied to immunization compliance. Front-line staff could better enforce vaccine mandates if they were provided with resources and training about vaccine promotion.

Guideline adherence of physiotherapists in the treatment of patients with low back pain: A qualitative study

RATIONALE

Adherence rates to guidelines show room for improvement, and increase in adherence to guidelines may potentially lead to better outcomes and reduced costs of treatment. To improve adherence, it is essential to understand the considerations of physiotherapists regarding the assessment and management of low back pain (LBP). The purpose of this study is to gain insight in the considerations of Dutch physiotherapists on adherence to the national physiotherapy guideline in the treatment of patients with LBP.

METHODS

This is a qualitative study, using an interpretive approach of semi-structured interviews with 14 physiotherapists who regularly treat patients with LBP. Thematic analysis was conducted with open coding using an existing framework. This framework distinguishes five components to adherence based on patient factors, provider factors, guideline characteristics, institutional factors and the implementation process.

RESULTS

Participating physiotherapists mentioned that the guideline should provide more information about psychosocial prognostic factors and psychosocial treatment options. The participants experienced difficulties in addressing patient expectations that conflict with guideline recommendations. The implementation process of the guideline was considered insufficient. Physiotherapists might rely too much on their experience, and knowledge of evidence-based treatment might be improved. In general, the interviewed physiotherapists thought they were mainly non-adherent to the guidelines. However, when comparing their considerations with the actual guideline recommendations they were mainly adherent.

CONCLUSION

To improve adherence, the guideline should provide more information about addressing psychosocial prognostic factors, and Dutch physiotherapists might be trained in communication skills to better address patient expectations. A more extensive implementation process is warranted for the next guideline to increase the physiotherapists' knowledge of evidence-based treatment.

Response Strategies of UK Construction Contractors to COVID-19 in the Consideration of New Projects

COVID-19 presented a catastrophic event, creating a unique environment and resulting in lasting repercussions globally. The construction industry has been one of the worst affected sectors relating to the public health pandemic. Challenges such as workplace closures and site cessations led to untold uncertainty, developing into contractual grievances and supply-chain disruption, amongst others. The focus of this study is to determine the response strategies of UK construction companies in the face of the COVID-19 global pandemic and the subsequent recession the UK fell into as a direct result. A literature review of previous recession responses was examined and four areas for further consideration were identified, which included contracting, risk management, cost control and finance. The study compared the previous response strategies to identify whether lessons had been learned from prior experience, or if new strategies had emerged due to the different economic and political circumstances. A qualitative methodology was adopted to provide the required depth of analysis for the research. Thirty-two participants from different size construction organisations were interviewed, which provided evidence of strategies across the four categories analysed. The results indicated that in the early stages, uncertainty around all aspects of the pandemic caused organisations to anticipate the worst financial consequences, as the scale or scope of government intervention was initially unknown. As a result, companies reacted by downsizing, halting expansion, introducing competitive pricing to ensure there were projects in the pipeline and diversification to ensure stability and survival of the company. Organisations used the pandemic as an opportunity to restructure and invested in new technology to remain competitive. Client relationships and supply-chain partnerships were deemed to be of upmost importance in resolving contracting challenges that the pandemic brought about.

Characterization of Medication Errors in a Medical Intensive Care Unit of a University Teaching Hospital in South Korea

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to characterize the current status of medication errors (MEs) throughout the medication therapy process from prescribing to use and monitoring in a medical intensive care unit (MICU) in Korea.

METHODS

Four trained research pharmacists collected data through retrospectively reviewing electronic medical records for adults hospitalized in the MICU in 2017. The occurrence of MEs was determined through interprofessional team discussion led by an academic faculty pharmacist and a medical intensivist based on the medication administration records (MARs). The type of MEs and the consequent ME-related outcome severity were categorized according to the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe and the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention, respectively.

RESULTS

Overall, electronic medical records for 293 patients with 78,761 MARs were reviewed in this study. At least one type of ME occurred in 271 patients (92.5%) in association with 16,203 MARs (21%), primarily caused by inappropriate dose (35.5%), drug (27.8%), and treatment duration (25.1%). Clinically significant harmful events occurred in 24 patients (8%), including life-threatening (n = 5) and death (n = 2) cases. The 2 patients died of enoxaparin-induced fatal hemorrhage and neutropenia associated with ganciclovir and cefepime. Antibiotics were the most common culprit medications leading to clinically significant harmful events.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, MEs are prevalent in the MICU in Korea, most commonly prescribing errors. Although mostly benign, harmful events including deaths may occur due to MEs, mainly associated with antibiotics. Systematic strategies to minimize these potentially fatal MEs are urgently needed.

Dynamic Distributed and Parallel Machine Learning algorithms for big data mining processing

Purpose

This work can be used as a building block in other settings such as GPU, Map-Reduce, Spark or any other. Also, DDPML can be deployed on other distributed systems such as P2P networks, clusters, clouds computing or other technologies.

Design/methodology/approach

In the age of Big Data, all companies want to benefit from large amounts of data. These data can help them understand their internal and external environment and anticipate associated phenomena, as the data turn into knowledge that can be used for prediction later. Thus, this knowledge becomes a great asset in companies' hands. This is precisely the objective of data mining. But with the production of a large amount of data and knowledge at a faster pace, the authors are now talking about Big Data mining. For this reason, the authors’ proposed works mainly aim at solving the problem of volume, veracity, validity and velocity when classifying Big Data using distributed and parallel processing techniques. So, the problem that the authors are raising in this work is how the authors can make machine learning algorithms work in a distributed and parallel way at the same time without losing the accuracy of classification results. To solve this problem, the authors propose a system called Dynamic Distributed and Parallel Machine Learning (DDPML) algorithms. To build it, the authors divided their work into two parts. In the first, the authors propose a distributed architecture that is controlled by Map-Reduce algorithm which in turn depends on random sampling technique. So, the distributed architecture that the authors designed is specially directed to handle big data processing that operates in a coherent and efficient manner with the sampling strategy proposed in this work. This architecture also helps the authors to actually verify the classification results obtained using the representative learning base (RLB). In the second part, the authors have extracted the representative learning base by sampling at two levels using the stratified random sampling method. This sampling method is also applied to extract the shared learning base (SLB) and the partial learning base for the first level (PLBL1) and the partial learning base for the second level (PLBL2). The experimental results show the efficiency of our solution that the authors provided without significant loss of the classification results. Thus, in practical terms, the system DDPML is generally dedicated to big data mining processing, and works effectively in distributed systems with a simple structure, such as client-server networks.

Findings

The authors got very satisfactory classification results.

Originality/value

DDPML system is specially designed to smoothly handle big data mining classification.

The Role of Mobile Application Acceptance in Shaping E-Customer Service

Most retailers are integrating their practices with modern technologies to enhance the effectiveness of their operations. The adoption of technology aims to enable businesses to accurately meet customer needs and expectations. This study focused on examining the role of mobile application (app) acceptance in shaping customer electronic experience. A mixed method was adopted, in which qualitative data were collected using interviews, and quantitative data were gathered using the questionnaires. The results indicate that mobile app acceptance contributes to a positive customer experience while purchasing products and services from online retailers. Mobile apps are associated with benefits, such as convenience, ease of use, and the ability to access various products and services. With the rapid development in technology, e-commerce retailers should leverage such innovations to meet customer needs.